3 QBs lost to injury: Wallace, Cutler, Locker

Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler (6) kneels on the field after a play during the second half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2013, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Three starting quarterbacks had to come out of their games Sunday afternoon.

Already without franchise quarterback Aaron Rodgers because of a left collarbone injury, the Packers lost backup Seneca Wallace to a groin injury at Lambeau Field.

In Nashville, Tennessee’s Jake Locker was lost to an injured right foot that had him on crutches and in a walking boot in the second half.

And in Chicago, Jay Cutler threw for 250 yards and a touchdown in his first action since he injured his groin last month. He looked progressively worse as the game wore on and departed before the Bears’ final drive with what the team said was an ankle injury.

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Three teams, three lost quarterbacks, three losses — all at home.

Just like last week, Packers coach Mike McCarthy had to adjust on the fly after losing his starting quarterback on the first series.

Third-stringer Scott Tolzien, who played college ball at Wisconsin and was just signed off the practice squad this week, filled in well enough with 280 yards and a touchdown with two interceptions. But quarterback play was hardly a concern as Philadelphia’s Nick Foles exposed the suspect Green Bay secondary in a 27-13 win.

In Tennessee, the Titans rallied late against Jacksonville. They scored twice in the final 4:15, the last on a 14-yard TD pass by Ryan Fitzpatrick to Delanie Walker with 40 seconds left. But Johnathan Cyprien recovered the onside kick to seal the 29-27 victory.

Now the Titans likely will be without Locker on Thursday night. He hurt his right foot in the second quarter at the end of an option keeper and left the stadium on crutches wearing a walking boot. Locker said he will have more tests Monday to determine the extent of the damage but said he’s hoping it’s not a season-ending injury.

“I can’t imagine in four days he’d able to play, as sore as he was,” Tennessee coach Mike Munchak said of Locker.

In Chicago, Cutler was replaced by Josh McCown, who drove the Bears right downfield, throwing an 11-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Marshall with 40 seconds left. After a roughing penalty on Willie Young gave the Bears another chance at the tying 2-point conversion, Nick Fairley threw Matt Forte down in the backfield to preserve the 21-19 win for Detroit.

“I just felt really restricted in the pocket in what I was able to do and it wasn’t getting out as quick, and some of the throws didn’t have as much on them as I wanted,” Cutler said. “And I knew Josh was ready to go and I just didn’t want to get to a point where I was hurting us more than I was helping us.”

Cutler said he isn’t sure if he will be able to play next Sunday against Baltimore.

In San Francisco, 49ers tight end Vernon Davis and rookie safety Eric Reid each sustained concussions against Carolina.

Davis was injured in the second quarter and taken to the locker room before halftime for evaluation. Then Reid went down for several minutes after a helmet-to-helmet hit on Mike Tolbert with 8:29 left in the third quarter. Coach Jim Harbaugh hurried out to the spot and watched closely, then Reid was helped off the field before being tested for a concussion.

Davis took a hard hit from Panthers safety Mike Mitchell with 7:19 left in the first half near the goal line on an incomplete pass targeted for him. The team announced early in the second half his evaluation revealed a concussion.

Elsewhere Sunday, New York Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul returned against Oakland in the second quarter after leaving earlier with a shoulder injury. Pierre-Paul, who has struggled this season after undergoing back surgery in June, had sacked Terrelle Pryor on the play before he was hurt. He had said earlier this week it was the best he had felt since the surgery.

In Atlanta, Roddy White returned to the Falcons after missing the last month with ankle and hamstring injuries. He had one catch for 20 yards, hardly sparking the offense.

Also: Jaguars receiver Stephen Burton suffered a head injury in the fourth quarter of their win over Tennessee. ... Seattle CB Brandon Browner (groin) left in the second quarter at Atlanta. DT Tony McDaniel (hamstring) left in the third quarter. Neither returned. ... Buffalo WR Stevie Johnson left with a groin injury and did not return at Pittsburgh. Steelers rookie S Shamarko Thomas left in the second quarter with an ankle injury did not return. G Ramon Foster also left with an ankle injury and did not return.